Birmingham, Alabama residents have been drinking water without fluoride for at least two years, with city officials failing to notify the public of the absence of the dental health additive.

The lack of fluoride addition to Birmingham's water supply affects most of the city's drinking water distribution system. Fluoride is commonly added to municipal water supplies across the United States as a public health measure to prevent tooth decay.

City officials have not provided details about when fluoride treatment was discontinued or the reasons behind the decision. The absence of public notification about the change has raised questions about transparency in municipal water management.

The discovery of the missing fluoride comes amid ongoing national debates about water fluoridation policies. While dental health organizations generally support water fluoridation as safe and effective, some communities have opted to discontinue the practice in recent years.

Birmingham water officials have not indicated whether there are plans to resume fluoride treatment or when residents might be formally notified about the current status of their water supply.